As Neymar Santos appeared in court last week to testify against allegations of corruption and fraud involving his transfer to Barcelona FC, is his retention at the Nou Camp sustainable? Neymar was the 23rd highest paid player in 2015, with $14m from his salary and $17m from endorsements (you would think it’s the hair, but really it’s Nike and Beats By Dre). The sporting sorcerer is going to be the 3rd highest salaried player after his teammate Messi and Real Madrid’s Ronaldo.
This is despite continuous problems for unpaid taxes in 2007-08, and $47.6m of Neymar’s assets being frozen because of Neymar only declaring 8% of his assets in 2013, omitting advertising and Barcelona FC payments. These troubles run parallel to Neymar’s former club Santos, suing Barcelona and Neymar’s father’s company over alleged tax fraud findings by Spanish authorities. The disclosed fee of $64.3 mil was actually between $83mil to $122.6m and Barcelona concealed this part of the deal. Where did that money go? Sandro Rosell, former Barcelona club president and his successor, Josep Bartomeu, refused to attend court last week to answer queries. Both mentor and apprentice are also facing allegations of defrauding the Spanish tax office of an estimated €13m in a separate case.
Neymar has inarguably become instrumental to Barcelona FC this season, but can The Catalans tolerate his perpetuating legal problems and their stretched budgeting challenges, to keep this gem in their crown of jewels (Messi-Suarez-Neymar or MSN)? Messi’s and Neymar’s contracts could threaten the financial status of Barcelona and break Fifa Financial Fair Play regulations. The Catalonian club is seeking to increase its income to avoid exceeding the salary spending cap of $360m set by La Liga. Barcelona is already positioned at $358m per year but 73% of The Catalans collective revenue goes towards the tectonic trio of MSN.
The Catalans’ coffers are being challenged by the English Premier League, and the broadcasting veins of ore that are now guaranteed to flow into the EPL elite clubs. Barcelona wants to keep EPL giants Man Utd, Chelsea, and Man City away from MSN, and especially Real Madrid and Man Utd from Neymar. The days of wearing the UNICEF logo are gone as European rivals are increasing revenue capabilities and Barcelona can no longer be magnanimous in their actions.
The Catalans wish to increase their present budget of $673.9m to $1.12b by 2021 and to remain the perennial power of European football, increasing stadium capacity, shirt sales, and sponsorship and investments, including present negotiations with Qatar Airway’s. However, talks with the Qatari’s have encountered friction as The Catalans are seeking $290m over 4 years or $72.5m per year and Pepsi are now in the spotlight with a rumored $67.6m per season deal. This would supplement Barcelona’s lost earnings and dented budget if the Qatari negotiations falter.
Why are Messi and Suarez not as sought after as Neymar? Neymar is pledging allegiance to Barcelona and allegedly, his father, Neymar Sr, turned down a $221.1m offer by Man Utd for his son last summer. Neymar, arguably the world’s 3rd best player, can improve because he is a youthful 24 year-old and with his youth comes value. This is why Neymar is being targeted; he can be a pillar to build a bastion of footballing power around for nearly a decade more under current form and with cohesive team chemistry.
Why not Messi and Suarez? Messi is an institution at Barcelona and both Messi and Suarez are 29. They are entering their peak in the football world. Neymar could be a ‘Messi’ elsewhere and is the player to target. This is why Barcelona wants to solidify Neymar’s future to the club with a new contract that will have a $1.12bil buyout clause, and is willing to pay $16.9m per season until 2021. Neymar’s current buyout clause stands at $202.7m.
However, Barcelona need to secure increased investment or risk facing serious financial turmoil, as they verge on Fifa regulation violations, as well as internal revenue strains, by paying the MSN salaries while trying to retain this trio, especially Neymar, who is a long-term prospective investment. Pep Guardiola is taking the helm of Man City this summer and is eyeing Neymar through his broadside telescope. While Spain is generally considered more attractive as a destination for Latin American stars due to language, cultural, and temperature similaries with their home nations, Man City has the financial clout to tempt Neymar.
The power of the Chinese Super League is also a danger to The Catalans’ retaining their poster boy. A Chinese conglomerate purchased 20% of Atletico Madrid last year. This year, 4 times in one month, the Chinese Super League has broken its purchase record; Shanghai SIPG spent $20.2m signing Elkeson from Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, before being overtaken by Jiangsu Suning ($31.5m for Ramires), who was overshadowed by Evergrande ($47.2m for Jackson Martinez) and then eclipsed by Suning ($56.2m for Alex Teixeira). What will the Chinese offer for Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar? It will happen! Shanghai SIPG already offered Man Utd’s Wayne Rooney $108m over 3 years.
I was in Europe’s modern day Colosseum, the Nou Camp, on a Wednesday night two weeks ago watching Barcelona take to their pristine pitch, a plethora of green shaded stripes cared for by a regiment of groundkeepers, and surrounded by a host of stewards and security patrols. You would think the pitch has oil beneath its leafy stalks. The cheers and jeers of The Catalan mob were deafening. The thumps of drums rolling in the deepest of crevices of this grassy gladiatorum could be heard throughout ‘Les Corts’.
Barcelona FC is a power to behold. Messi moved magnetically with almost ankle aching right angle turns. Suarez managed to control his biting habit and still be a dangerous asset, and Neymar, what can I say about Neymar! The Brazilian’s nimble fluidity foiled opponents’ efforts to disrupt his control of the football. He was slight, swift, and softly steered the ball. And that’s without even touching on the rest of the squad. Any collection of fans would cheer if their club had this amount of players that could ensnare the senses.
How will the board members be able to walk comfortably through the ‘L’Eixample’ in fanatic fan Barcelona if the club loses godly players? Barcelona FC represents the core symbol of Catalonian identity empowering Catalans in the pursuit of their desired sovereignty. The official language of the club is Catalan, and the Catalonian flag waves in the stands with pride, not the Spanish flag. The club’s motto is ‘Més que un club’ or ‘more than a club.’ Barcelona FC is so intertwined with Catalonian pride that the Barcelona FC logo is imbued into the stain glass windows of the Santa Maria Del Mar, a famous Barcelona Basilica.
How will Barcelona cope if their beloved football club, a force for Catalonian identity, loses the recognizable weapons that make it a footballing force and a unifying force for a people seeking a state?
